Avalon Beach Reserve transformed into off-leash dog park
Avalon Beach Reserve has been made a permanent off-leash dog park with councillors calling for more areas to be made canine-friendly.
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Avalon Beach Reserve has been made a permanent off-leash dog park with councillors calling for more areas to be made canine-friendly.
Councillors on Northern Beaches Council unanimously backed the proposal to give dogs the free run of the reserve at last month’s meeting.
A similar proposal for Station Beach will be discussed at this week’s council meeting with one councillor declaring the decision cannot come soon enough.
“We need more off leash dog parks,” Pittwater councillor Kylie Ferguson said.
“Last week I was down at Newport and I’ve never seen so many dogs on a lead getting walked … and I just thought wow, it is great to see these people out getting exercise.
“Bring on April’s meeting when Station Beach comes up.”
The decision means the northern section of Avalon Beach Reserve will be an off-leash area at all times.
The council will also install two new benches, bins, signage and upgraded areas of grass.
The next potential off-leash area to be decided on is Station Beach at Palm Beach which has caused tensions in the community.
However, that is also expected to get the green light following support of a recent trial.
In an attempt to calm fears of those who don’t want dogs on beaches, deputy mayor Sue Heins called on council officers to investigate the introduction of dog water parks.
The parks, which have water features and pools specifically designed for dogs, are popular in America and are becoming increasingly common in Australia.
“The tensions between who has access to the beach grows each year,” Cr Heins said.
“So to start thinking outside the square why limit the idea of dogs enjoying water activities to just our beaches?”
Cr Penny Philpott backed the idea and called for Lionel Watts Reserve in Frenchs Forest to be among the parks considered.
Palm Beach resident Richard Kovacs, who is fighting against the Station Beach plans, spoke at the meeting in support of dog water parks.
“It is easier and more cost effective to repurpose some of the existing 28 off leash dog parks to include water features than to put our precious open beaches at risk,” he said.
He said he had seen an increase in visitors and dog faeces and tensions between owners and residents over recent years and said the proposal was a sensible compromise.
Council officers will now come back with a report about the possible introduction of dog water parks.
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